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Holiday Boat Parades

One of Orange County’s best winter traditions is the local Holiday Boat Parades. Spectators flock to our coastal harbors to see festively decorated boats and homes celebrating the season. Each year, we have several boat parades in OC: Dana Point, Newport Beach, Huntington Harbour, and Yorba Linda plus the Dry Land Boat Parade held annually in Villa Park. Don’t miss out on the fun! All boat parades are free to watch.

Here are the best holiday boat parades in Orange County and a few nearby to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

Newport Harbor, CA 92663

December 18-24, 2024 | 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade lights up Newport Bay every holiday season. For over one hundred years, hundreds of boat owners have draped their boats in lights to celebrate Christmas. The event also includes fireworks and other holiday-themed festivities.

Newport Beach Boat Parade

Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights

Dana Point Harbor, CA 92629

December 6, 7, 8, 2024 | 6:30PM start time

Decorated boats will light up the night at the Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights. The festive event is held every year to celebrate the holiday season and participants put on elaborate light displays for the opportunity to win cash prizes. Watch from the shoreline or cruise the harbor to take in the merry magic with Captain Dave’s, Dana Wharf, and the Ocean Institute.

Huntington Beach Harbor Boat Parade

Huntington Beach Harbor, CA 92649

Saturday/Sunday, December 14 & 15, 2024 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

The Huntington Harbor Boat Parade is a local tradition held every holiday season. The event is organized by the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee as a way to thank the residents of Huntington Harbour for decorating their homes for all to enjoy, and is an all-volunteer effort.

Villa Park Dry Land Boat Parade

Villa Park, CA

Sunday, December 15, 2024

The Villa Park Dry Land Boat Parade is an asphalt harbor tour with over 50 vessels traveling through Villa Park. Along the way there are neighborhood parties and kids lined up eagerly waiting for candy to be tossed overboard.

For the purposes of the Dry Land Boat Parade, a “boat” is defined as anything that can be towed or driven up to 5 mph. Spectators and participants will see many forms of decorated boats and a variety of other wheeled “vehicles” such as golf carts, Segways, trucks, classic cars, surfboards, kayaks, jet skis and many more creative vehicles.

Yorba Linda Holiday Of Lights Boat Parade

East lake Village
5325 Village Center Drive

December TBA, 2024

The Annual Holiday Of Lights Boat Parade is hosted by the East Lake Village Community Association. The boat parade is viewable to the public from any location around the lake. There event includes food trucks in the Clubhouse Parking Lot for spectators to purchase food and drinks to enjoy before and during the parade.

Note: There is also the Lake Mission Viejo boat parade but that is open to lake residents and their guests only.

More Nearby Boat Parades

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you wear to a boat parade?
Dress in layers including a jacket. Bring gloves, a winter hat, scarf, and leggings. Wear warm shoes and socks. You will be standing outside, either on a pier, boardwalk, seawall, or beach so don’t wear heels.

What to bring to a boat parade?
Bring a camera, map of the area, cash/change, snacks, blanket, and thermos full of a hot cocoa, coffee or tea. Bring a stroller or a wagon if you have small kids.

What is a parade on water called?
Boat parades are waterway events with decorated and illuminated boats. Some of the well known water parades include Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, Fort Lauderdale Boat Parade, Walt Disney World and of course the drunk Brady boat parade.


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Monique McArthur
Monique McArthur is a mother of two, writer, and creator of delicious recipes. In her spare time she enjoys exploring all that Orange County has to offer, traveling, shopping, running with her dogs and spending time with family.